Monday 15 April 2013

M as in MONEY (A-Z Challenge)

"The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."  
(1 Timothy 6:10)

Let take a moment to consider what that says, and what it does not say. 

The verse does NOT say is that money is bad, or that love is bad. 

There are people who say that money is inherently bad, because it is capable of doing such evil. 

I disagree with that entirely. Money is like any other physical part of creation. Bits of paper with ink on them. Coins made of silver, gold, copper, or whatever. What it does depends on what we want it to do, the way we think about it.

The problem is not the money; the problem is the attitude we take towards that money. The search for money can take over our lives. It can drive us into jobs, even soul-less jobs, so that we can make more money. So we can buy clothes, and houses, and cars. We can become people who work hours of unpaid overtime for the sake of having a job that gives lots of money. (That's how you "do more with less"; unpaid overtime.)

It's true that we all need places to live. But mansions with three-car garages? How about an apartment? And do we truly need a BMW as a status symbol, or will an economical Ford, or Chevy, or Honda do just fine to get us from place to place? 

The Occupy movement has clearly identified the "One Per Cent," the billionaires whose lives are nothing like those of the ordinary folks. The people who seem to be busy making money only for the sake of having more money, and who will do so no matter who they hurt or destroy.  Strange; very strange.

I try to make a point of loving people rather than money. I try to use the word "enough" regularly, as in "we have enough." I hope more of us can say that, often.

Blessings and Bear hugs, friends.

P.S.: "Love will get you through times with no money better than money will get you through times with no love."
 ~ The Girls Next Door.

Addendum

We were supposed to get three days of snow over the weekend. But we got nary a flake! Not only that, spring is beginning to clear the ground. (These pictures were taken of the ground just across the river from us.)





I suspect we may get a big spring storm, but I hope not. Especially for the sake of the new-born calves out in the fields.


44 comments:

  1. I have been reading a couple of books on minimalism. I feel like the drive to acquire money (and "stuff") is so bred into us by our culture that I need to constant remind myself and work toward letting go. Things and wealth don't bring happiness, and it's a big trap to start to believe they do.

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    1. Thanks so much for the comment! The "love money, use people" direction of our world is just so very wrong.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  2. Oh, I am so happy to hear that spring is finally coming to the Bear's neck of the woods. And I agree with you about money, Bear. It has made me very happy to downsize in everything in my life, so that a small rented apartment and a Honda Civic suits me very well. Possessions can possess a person's soul, if we are not careful. Sending you big hugs from California. :-)

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    1. New possibilities are "springing" up in this part of the world. Yes!

      Interesting about our move to an apartment, like yours. I got rid of a lot, and now realize I could get rid of a lot more!

      Blessings and Bear hugs to you too!
      Bears Noting

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  3. Woohoo! Pretty soon you'll be into mud season! Love this post...speaking as an impoverished soul who chooses to be such.

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  4. I should probably note that I am off to work now!

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    1. How much do we need is changing into "how little do we need." One of the things I find is that I am giving a lot more to church and charitable activities.

      Of course, chosen poverty is so different from enforced poverty, which is happening more and more all the time.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  5. I did a year of volunteer service where I was living in a rough area and only getting paid 100 dollars a month. I learned how to live simply and now I look at money much differently!

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    1. I did something similar to that for a couple of years, only a got paid a bit it more (though not much). An eye-opening and thought inspiring experience. Thanks for sharing your story, Megan.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  6. I wish we were paid based on how much we liked what we do rather than work simply for money. Would make a happier world.

    Happy A to Z blogging.
    pensuasion.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you for dropping by and sharing a marvellous thought. I had never considered that. It makes wonderful sense.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  7. I agree with you Bear - people - love - is worth more than money - love the PS too. sandie

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    1. Thanks, Sandie. And yes, maybe we'll get some spring at last.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  8. I like your attitude about money. You are right, most of us have all we need and some have much more than they need and want more. I think that is why we have the broken; the homeless.
    I'm glad that you did not get snow. It is high time that winter moves along.
    #1261
    A to Z April Blogging Challenge
    http://mauldinfamily1.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/m-is-for-museum/

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    1. Great comment, Debra. Thank you.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  9. I awakened to a smattering of snow this morning ... it won't last long, but it is pretty. MONEY! I've been without it, with it, wishing for it ... never made one whit of difference in my attitude! Happy Monday, Bear.

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    1. Woonie, you're an indefatigable optimist. (Sorry for the big word, but it seemed so appropriate in your case.) Love ya, sistah.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  10. We are supposed to get snow here too. I'll believe it when I see it, as the saying goes. Since you read my posts, I'm sure you have figured out that money was never the main motivator in my life.

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    1. Absolutely, Inger. Thanks for your thoughts.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  11. Thousands of lambs lost here in the unseasonally late snow Bear, but spring creeping in now - it's taken it's time!
    Sx

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  12. PS. Thanks for all your support on Facebook regarding my photo a day posts :)

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    1. I really enjoy the way your family and photography are coming along. But I'm so sad to hear of the lambs lost. That is the cruel part of spring storms.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  13. Money can make you comfortable, but never happy. There is a price to pay for having too much of anything.

    I am with you. A Kia will get you to the same place as a Lexus.

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    1. Thanks for that thought about comfortable vs. happy. Great!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  14. Consumerism as separation from 'nature' generates a large hole in us we must feed with endless and meaningless consumption. What I hear you saying here is that we should demote money and promote wealth. I agree.

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    1. Demote money and promote wealth! Wow, what a great idea! Thanks, susan.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  15. I try to look at money like its own spiritual practice; by that I mean treating money with respect. I don't mind having it one bit :-) But i know my riches are not money.

    It bothers me when people are not responsible with finances. I make no apology for earning money and I when I can I will spend it as I wish. But earn is an operative word because it gives more than anything material: earning gives responsibility and pride.

    And what matters most? LOVE!


    kj

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    1. Thank you kj for those isights. Brilliant! Looking after money really is a spiritual practice. And the rest flows from that — working, earning, care.

      Thanks for sharing those insights.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  16. Money is necesary, but not a necessary evil. It's like you said about attitude. If all we want is more more more, that is the wrond attitude. If it is needed to pay off obligations or put food on the table, that's good. Yes, there can be occassional splurges but if it gets us into debt, that's not good.

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    1. Money for necessities, that's right. There is no virtue in unhealthy poverty. Putting food on the table and paying off debts are very important.

      Thanks Julia.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  17. The truth will always set you free, and this truth from I Timothy is one of the best. And you've pointed us in the direction of the truth -- it isn't the money, but our attitude toward it. Thanks for a wonderful post today!

    Sherrey at Healing by Writing

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    1. Thanks for your thoughts, Sherrey. Glad I could share something useful.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  18. Ha! I just came from a post on money in which I said that I wish we could go back to bartering, hehe. :)

    #atozchallenge, Kristen's blog: kristenhead.blogspot.com

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    1. I think barter is an excellent way to "do business." But governments don't like it because they cannot tax it. I love it when I can encourage subversive thinking. Not that you're being subversive, unless you think you are.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

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  19. I've always preferred living like a hobbit. Small houses warmly packed with the artistry of life and friends and family. Like a lot of people, I wish there were more money. No...I wish there were enough. In this world, sometimes it just feels overwhelming. That's the sad state of how the top one-percent affect the working poor. When there's not enough, you can't even enjoy the "what is" because you miss it while you're working. Nice post! Jennifer a.k.a. Urban Gypsy Girl

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    1. Thank you, Jennifer. Perfectly spoken by an Urban Gypsy Girl who see things are they are.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  20. Very well stated! I am always trying to see what I have enough of and in truth I rarely buy things unless they are on sale. When it comes to household things and clothes, I tend to go to thrift stores. It like a treasure hunt and it saves money.

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    1. Such a fine example! Thanks Frances. Have fun treasure hunting!

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  21. Wait. I thought "M" is for more. Yeah, more money, please!

    Kidding. Kidding.

    Nice thoughts, Bear.

    Oh, and it's good to see a little melt up there!

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    1. More? More? You want more? (Sounds like a line out of a book, somewhere.) Thanks, Reffie. Hope you're having a good spring, too.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  22. As I read this post, I was reminded of my post, "How Much is Enough." I went back to it to read your comment where you talked about having too much and working on getting rid of things. You also said you would write on the subject at some point. This post definitely relates; maybe you've written others, too, that maybe I've missed.
    I find it helpful to ponder the "stuff" question and the "minimalist" movement. It is helping me with limiting the control that "stuff" has over me. Thanks.

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    1. "Enough" features largely in my thinking, and sometimes in my writing. I haven't written a lot about it, though I do expect to return to the matter.

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete
  23. I hate to interject as my gender doesn't seem to fit but I did appreciate this post. As to love and money. Money can't buy love...but you can rent it. Money can't buy happiness?...You don't know where to shop. There is one thing money can't buy...poverty. A fool and his money are some party.

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    1. Thanks, Al. Good thoughts, all of them

      Blessings and Bear hugs!
      Bears Noting

      Delete

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